Overview of the Basics

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Terms

Anatomical Terms

Kinetic Chains

Joint Positions

Planes & Axes

Osteokinematic Movements

Resources

Terms

Kinesiology: study of movement through anatomy, physiology, physics, & mechanics
1. understanding the sources and limitations of human movement is foundational to:
  1. patient management
  2. achieve maximum functional outcomes
Biomechanics: used when applying mechanics to the study of human movement
Mechanics: study of forces exerted on an object
Kinematics: (what happened) describes the movement of a body without considering the outside forces that would produce the movement
1. Osteokinematics: movement of bones in space about a joint axis (Ex. Flexion & extension)
2. Arthrokinematics: movement of bone surfaces during joint movement (Ex. Roll & glide)
Kinetics: (why it happened) describes how forces & torques affect the body (Ex. Force of a muscle acting on a bone --> osteokinematic & arthrokinematics movement)

Anatomical Terms

Anatomical position: standardized position; body
1. standing in upright position
2. eyes level
3. facing forward
4. feet parallel & close together
5. arms at side of body with
6. palms facing forward

Medial: refers to a location or position toward the midline

Ex. Ulna is the medial side of the forearm

Lateral: refers to locations or positions farther from the midline

Ex. Radius is lateral to the ulna

Anterior (ventral/volar): front of the body

Ex. Sternum is anterior on the chest wall

Posterior (dorsal): back of the body

Ex. Scapula is located posterior to the chest wall

Distal: away from the trunk
Proximal: toward the trunk

Ex. Elbow is distal to the shoulder and proximal to the wrist

Superior: indicate the location of a body part that is above another; upper surface
Inferior: indicates the body part is below another; lower surface
*Cranial: (cephalad) refer to a position closer to the head
*Caudal: refer to position closer to the feet

*used to describe positions on quadrupeds

Superficial/Deep: used to describe structed depending on the relative depth from the surface of the body

Ex. External oblique is superficial to the internal oblique; transverse abdominus is deep to the internal oblique

Supine: anterior surface of the body faces upward; posterior surface is in contact with supporting surface (eg. Floor)
Prone: anterior surface faces downward, in contact with the supporting surface; posterior surface faces upwards
Bilateral: refers to two, or both sides
Contralateral: refers to the opposite side (eg. Affects of the right brain affect left side extremities' function)
Ipsilateral: refers to the same side of the body

Kinetic Chains

Closed kinetic chain: occurs when the distal segment is fixed (closed), providing stabilization at the distal end of the chain while the proximal segment is free to move

Ex. Entering a standing position = foot (distal end) is fixed to the floor; the hips, knee, & ankle (joints proximal to the fixed end) are free to move
Most susceptible to injury

Open kinetic chain: occurs when the distal end is not fixed (open) and proximal segments are fixed

Provide stabilization of the proximal end and freedom of distal ends
Ex. Knee extension while sitting = hip joint (proximal) is fixed and knee/ankle joints (distal to fixed limb) is free to move

Joint Positions

Open-packed (resting position): joint surfaces are not tightly compressed, allowing for greater freedom of movement
1. minimal contact (touching) of joint surfaces
2. lax capsule and ligaments
3. maximized joint mobility
4. ideal for joint assessment & mobilization techniques
Closed-packed: joint surfaces fit together better with ligaments and capsules under maximal tension (pulled tight) that maximizes the stability of the joint
1. maximum contact between joint surfaces
2. tight ligaments & capsules
3. minimal extra movement outside of the joint within its most stable position
4. provides joint stability during weight-bearing activities

Planes & Axes

Movement occurs within a plane and about an axis

Axes: lines that pass through a joint, about which a limb segment moves (always perpendicular to the plane)
Sagittal plane: division into left/right; passes through the body vertically from anterior to posterior

Movement: flexion/extension

Frontal plane (coronal plane): division into anterior/posterior; passes through the body vertically from side to side

Movement: abduction & adduction

Horizontal plane (transverse plane): division into superior/inferior; passes horizontally

Movement: rotation

Center of gravity: the intersection of all cardinal planes

Different than center of mass
At the midsagittal plane slightly anterior to second sacral vertebra

Sagittal axis (anterior/posterior axis): line that passes through a joint from anterior to posterior

Ex. Abduction/adduction

Frontal axis (medial-lateral axis): line that passes through a joint side to side

Ex. Flexion/extension

Vertical axis (longitudinal axis): line that passes through a joint from superior to inferior

Ex. rotation

*Thumb movements are exceptions to planes/axes motion

Flexion/extension = frontal plane/sagittal axis
Abduction/adduction = sagittal plane/frontal axis

Osteokinematic Movements

Osteokinematic Movements: joint movement through range of motion (ROM) including flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, & rotation

Active ROM: occurs when muscles contract to move joints through a range of motion
Passive ROM: occurs when muscles are not contracting and external forces move the joint through its ROM
Dynamic movements: include flexion, extension, abduction, & adduction, describes the direction of movement with respect to AP
Static: used to describe joint position of non-moving limbs
Flexion: movement of one limb on another about a joint axis, bringing two anterior limb segment surfaces towards each other

occurs within the sagittal plane about the frontal axis
Ex. Knee flexion - posterior surface of the thigh & leg more toward each other
Ex. Neck flexion - "bowing down" movement
Ex. Elbow flexion - anterior surface of the forearm moving toward the anterior surface of the arm
Ex. Wrist flexion - anterior surface of the wrist to the anterior forearm

Extension: moving the anterior limb surface away from each other

Occurring within the sagittal plan and about the frontal axis
Hyperextension: extension of a joint beyond its nonpathological extension ROM

1. Plantar flexion: ankle flexion where toes are pointing downward toward the floor
2. Dorsiflexion: ankle flexion where the toes are pointing upward toward the chin
3. Lateral flexion: used to refer to the trunk bending to the side, moving the shoulder toward the ipsilateral hip

Abduction: movement away from the midline of the body
Adduction: movement toward the midline

7 & 8 occur within the frontal plane about a sagittal axis
Fingers/toes = exception
- Middle finger is point of reference of add/abduction movements of the hands - medial/lateral movements
- Second toe = reference point where adduction does not occur only as a return movement from abduction

1. Horizontal abduction: lateral shoulder movement
2. Horizontal adduction: medial shoulder movement

Occurs in the horizontal plane about a vertical axis

1. Radial deviation: occurs when the hand moves laterally, toward the radial/thumb side of the hand
2. Ulnar deviation: occurs when the hand moves medially, toward the ulnar/little finger size of the hand

Occurs in the frontal plane, about the sagittal axis

Rotation: movement of a limb within a horizontal plane and about a vertical axis
1. Medial rotation (internal rotation): when the anterior surface of a limb segment turns toward the midline
2. Lateral rotation (external rotation): occurs when the anterior surface of a limb segment t turns away from the midline (Applies to shoulder & hip)

Trunk, head, & neck is right/left rotation

1. Circumduction: triplanar movement, producing a circular, cone-shaped pattern in which distal segments move through larger arcs of movement than proximal segments

1. Inversion: moving the ankle so the sole of the foot faces medially
2. Eversion: moving the ankle so the sole of the foot faces laterally

1. Supination: forearm rotation with palm of hand oriented anteriorly
2. Pronation: forearm rotation with palm of hand oriented posteriorly

Opposition: movement of the thumb such that the pad of the thumb faces the pads of the other four fingers
Reposition: movement that returns the thumb to anatomical position

Scapular protraction: movement of the scapula laterally along the posterior chest wall
Scapular retraction: movement of the scapula medially along the posterior chest wall
Scapular elevation: movement of the scapula superiorly along the posterior chest wall
Scapular depression: movement of the scapula inferiorly along the posterior chest wall

Resources

Anatomy & Kinesiology: Chapter 1 Flashcards | Quizlet

OTD 509 Lab Week 1.pptx

509 Week 1 - Kinesiology_Biomechanics - Lecture.pptx

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